Page 146 of Kingdom of Death and Hope

“Prince Archie is outside,” Mother says, tapping the table to get my attention.

My eyes widen as I turn to look out the window. He’s talking to Henry. What could he possibly want?

“Just sit and drink your tea. I will go see what he wants.” Mother stands up and walks to the door.

Should I go into my room and pretend that I’m sleeping so he doesn’t come and talk to me? No. Mother told me to sit, and if she comes in with him and I’m not here she could get into trouble.

I mindlessly stir the tea, my mind far away from everything.

She can’t track the book because⁠—

Prince Archie is here, I whisper, panicked.

Kieran goes silent right as the door opens, Mother and the prince walking in.

“Prince Archie was so kind to come and check on you,” Mother says. “Would you like some tea?”

I move to stand up but Prince Archie lifts his hand.

“You do not need to get up. I want you to rest.” Prince Archie sits across from me. “No thank you to the tea.”

Mother stands at the end of the table, all of us deadly silent… an awkward silence.

“Can I do something for you?” I ask politely.

“I wanted to see how you were healing. It looks like the bruises and cuts on your face are healing up nicely. How about everything else?” he inquires, placing his folded hands on the table.

“I am still extremely weak. I find it difficult to stand or doing anything for a long period of time. I have not been sleeping well either and I do not have an appetite,” I reply honestly.

Always being on edge has made sleep and eating become things of the past. I’m lucky if I can get a couple hours of sleep each night.

I wonder if Kieran knows I’m having trouble sleeping.

“Is there anything I can do to help you?” Prince Archie asks. “I have increased the guards in town to make sure that you are safe at all times. Henry is here to keep you safe.”

“I don’t want to see her ever again,” I whisper.

“I don’t know if I can keep you from seeing each other, but I can try,” Prince Archie replies.

Sighing, I look down at my cup of tea. “I don’t want to have to talk to her again. It puts too much stress on me and I’m not getting any better.”

Memories resurface every time I get a glimpse of her. Terror runs through my body for days on end.

I’m in a constant state of fear.

“I can do that. I will tell my father what happened and let him know that she will not be able to talk to you again. If she has anything to say then she will have to go through several people so you don’t have to talk to her,” Prince Archie finally says.

My eyebrows bunch together as relief floods through me. Is Prince Archie changing a little? “Why are you being so kind to me?”

Prince Archie turns to my mother. “You should go check on your newborn.”

Mother and I make eye contact.

“It’s okay, Mother,” I say.

She nods and heads to her room, leaving us alone.

“Do not get me wrong, Adeline. I am still the same as I was before. Once we are married you will not be able to go out to the forest but once every other week. You will be in the palace, and any time I want you, you will be available,” he says, his voice hard. “I am being kind to you right now because I want you to be healthy by the time we get married. I am pushing the wedding back another year so you can heal fully and not have nightmares. That also means that in a year you will need to get over the fact that your sister did that to you.”